Sliding gate



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. F. SHERWOOD.

SLIDING GATE.

No. 440,283. Patented Nov. 11, 1890*.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. F. SHERWOOD. SLIDING GATE.

No. 440,283. Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

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GIDEON F. SHERVOOD, OF SALEM, OREGON.

SLIDING GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming 4part of Letters Patent No. 440,283, dated November 11, 1890.

Application filed March 24, 1890. Serial No. 345,030. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GIDEON F. SHRWOOD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Salem, in the county of Marion and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sliding Gates, of which the following is a specification, refer- Yence being had therein to-t-he accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to sliding gates, but more especially to that class known as pulley-openers, and my object is to produce a more simple, cheap, durable, and easilyoperated device of such class than has hitherto been in use.

lith this end in view my invention consists in the peculiar features of construction and conbinations of parts more fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my complete device, the gate being shown in closed adjustment; and Fig. 2,a similar view showing the gate open to its farthest extent.

The reference-letter A indicates the gate, which may be of any preferred construction, but in the present instance consists of a pair of horizontal rails U and iron pickets introduced through them, and is suspended from and supported by a suitable frame, consisting of the upright posts B, preferably three in number, and the top beam C, which restsat its middle and ends on said posts. This beam O is provided with a metallic track or way E extending its entire length, and the gate is suspended by means of its end stiles D, which extend to the beam O and have secured to their upper ends anti-friction hangers F, traveling on the way E, and consisting of suitable brackets in which are loosely mounted rollers f, having play the length of said brackets.

The mechanism for reciprocating the gate is as follows: Through suitable bearings secured to the center post B and situate about half-way between the top of the gate and the upper end of said post, extends transversely a shaft H, preferably made of hollow piping, and on this shaft near the post is rigidly mounted a grooved wheel or pulley G. The shaft H extends a considerable distance on each side of the post B, and its outer ends are supported by and have bearings in brackets n.' v K, secured on the upper ends of posts J, and beyond said brackets the shaft ends have handles or crank-arms I, by means ofwhich said shaft is revolved. A coil-spring M is sie-\---..\\

cured at its lower end to the rear face of the end stile D of the gate, a short distance above the pickets of the latter, and to the upper end of said spring is connected the rear end of a wire cable h, which runs over a small pulley n, mounted on the stile a little above said spring. This cable thence passes to the grooved pulley G and runs one and two-thirds time around it, and is then carried over a second small pulley'O, mounted in a bracket P, extending rearwardly from post B. After passing through said bracket over said pulley the cable runs forward, parallel with the bracket, and extends to the forward stile D of the gate, over a pulley L, mounted thereon, and thence downward contiguous with the front face of said stile, and is connected to the outer end of the latch R. This latch is pivoted at its rear end to one of the pickets of the gate and has limited play in a slot 7 in the stile D. It is givenaconst-ant downward tendency by the coil-spring S, which connects it between its pivotal point and the stile with the bottom rail U of the gate. This forward stile B is cut in two above the gate in line with the shaft H, forming an opening t', and the two sections thus made are joined by a horizontal U-shaped iron bracket WV, extending forward, the purpose of which will bedescribed hereinafter. The forward post B is providedl and hence drawn back, lifting the latch R and releasing it from the slot X through the medium of the connections which have been previously described. Vhen the latch has reached its upward limit in the slot r upon continuance of the revolution of the grooved pulley and consequent draft on the cable, it is apparent that the gate will be run back on the track E and the gap thus opened for the passage of the vehicle. When the gate thus travels to the rear, the construction is such (the pulley O being located as described) that it will be carried back of the center post B. This is moreover allowed by the opening in the stile D, the arms of the bracket W passing on either side of the shaft H, and thus permitting the entire gate to fall behind the post.l `The advantage of this arrangement is obvious. The full space between the post is left free for the passage of the vehicle, and no portion of the gate projects to receive injury by being struck by passing objects. When the operator has passed through, he will manipulate the opposite crank in the opposite direction, and it will become readily apparent by reference to Fig. 2 that the reverse operation will take place and the gate will be closed. I furthermore providea pair of guiding or steadying rollers T, bearing upon the upper surface of the top rail U of the frame and mounted at the opposite ends of a bracket T projecting rearwardly from the center post, whereby one roller will at all times have bearing on said rail.

The object of the coil-spring M at the rear of the gate is to take up all slack in the cable h, and this cable has been found most satisfactory when composed of wire, as it will then remain always taut, and slipping of the same on the grooved pulley will be overcome.

The anti-friction hangers F and the track E are protected from snow and sleet by a covering or roof Z, which is secured on top of the beam C and overhangs said parts, thus forming a shed.

An advantage of my device which might be mentioned is that the gate need only be of just the length of the gap to be closed, and thus economy in material results.

It is evident that in the construction and arrangement of parts of my device numerous slight changes could be made by a skilled mechanic, and hence I do not confine myself to the peculiar construction shown, but consider myself entitled to all such variations as come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a gate, a supportingframe, a sh aft extending transversely through said frame, a pulley rigid on said shaft, a cable secured at its opposite ends to the gate and encircling said pulley, and a loose pulley located out of vertical alignment with said rigid pulley, said cable being arranged to pass over said loose pulley, whereby the gate is thrown back of the central supporting-post of the frame, as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of a gate having upwardly-extending end stiles with a suitable supporting-frame, a shaft extending transversely therethrough, a grooved pulley rigid on said shaft, a cable secured at its opposite ends to the gate and encircling said grooved pulley, and a loose pulley located behind said grooved pulley, over which said cable passes,

whereby the gate may be made to slide behind the central supporting-post, an opening being made in the forward gate-stile, and a suitable connection between the sections thus formed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GIDEON F. SHERVVOOD. Witnesses:

L. E. PRATT, D. SHERMAN. 

